Newspaper vending machine



'SWL 6, 1932.

J. A. HEBB NEWSPAPER VENDING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Nov. 9, 1929 H M I lli. L;

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.Sept 6, 1932. J. A. HEBB NEWSPAPER VENDING MACHINE s sheets-sheet 2 Imed Nov. 9, 1929 INVENTOR 1mm.. mll

Sept. 6, 1932. A. HEBB 1,876,292

I NEWSPAPER VENDING MACHINE Filed Nov, 9, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR jf/MQ @Ma Patented Sept. 6, 1932 sereni* ori-ics JOHN Li-Inma, or Horwoon, rinINsirLvANIAA NEWSPAPER VENDING MACHINE Application' filed N'ovexnber'?, 1929. Serial No.V 405,877. v

This invention consists of an improvement in vending machines of the coin controlled type particularly adapted 'for use in the vending of newspapers andthe like.` It has l1n view to provide a self-contained machine having a weather-proofprotecting cover, capable of being opened for filling or charging with a supply group of units and having operative mechanism whereby one of said units may be projected voutwardly of the machine for grasping and removal. 1

The operative mechanism of the machine comprises a resilient supporting platform for maintaining the uppermostunit in operative relation to the projecting mechanism, and

means forlactuating the projecting mechanism, for each operation, involving return elements. v l l i vMy invention particularly resides in the construction of the'projecting mechanism, including the discharging lingers and means associatedtherewith for raising said fingers to project aV unit through a delivery opening 'for remo-val thereof, upon'actuating the projecting mechanism. l l y An additional feature consists of protective devices operable by the actuation of the projecting means for preventing the improper extraction of a unit on either the delivery 0r return movement of said means.y

Further 'objects and advantages will ben of F ig'l, particularly showing thepr'otective devices; j A 1 Fig. 5 is a sectional view on the line V-V of Fig. l, showing coin operated means for v controlling the movement of the projecting mechanism; j

Figs. 6, 7 and 8 are seetional'views on the lines VI-VLVII--VH and-VIII-VII of o Fig. 1 respectively, and illustratea coin changing mechanism associated with the pro,- jecting means; and 1 Fig. 9 is an enlarged view in elevation of the end of one of the discharging'fingers.

The machine as a whole comprises a lower base portion A and a coveringtop B connected hy a pair of hinges 2 at one end and provided with suitable locking elements (not shown). Y A 50 The main body A is of box-like shape,` generally rectangular inform, made ofwood, metal, orrother suitable material for complete protective enclosure Vof the interior. Casing A is provided at its lower front portion with a rectangular .cavity 4 in which is mounted an inclined iioor 5, resting upon a plurality ofliglit resilient springs 6, whereby the inclinedbottom 5 is capable of a considerable degree of vertical movement.

The floor or platform 5 is adapted to-re'- ceive a plurality offolded newspapers 8 as shown in Fig. 2, said platform being depressed by theweight of the newspapers with suiiicient pressure to maintain the upper'- most unit in operative rela-tion to thev 'discharging fingers or arms 9.Y f 'l Such fingers, as shown, kproject forwardly from the lower side of 'a main cross head 10, to which the lingersare pivoted, asby hinge connections 1l. The cross head 10 is Vcut away as at z lto permit upward movement Y of the fingers for the purpose lof lifting the uppermost' unit from the paclnvand shifting it freely outward, as in Fig. 3. v S Fingers 9 are provided with downwardly 'and forwardly projecting needles or pins l2,

bifurcated ends 17 of the fingers.

the entire series of leaves forming the unit, when the lingers are advanced.

Said needles are adjustably secured in the ends of the fingers by means of longitudinal slots 13 and clamping screws 13a, the latter being provided with winged nuts to facilitate such adjustment.

The upward movement of the fingers is effected by means of guide rods 14, superimposed on the lingers and pivotally connected to the stationary frame 100; as at 15. Such rods are mounted in apertured guides 16 midway of the ngers, and have their end portions resting in the upwardly turned The upwardly turned ends 17 provide skids movable over the paper and the needles l2 are adjustable between and below them. The configuration of the rods 14 is such as to extend over 1, the forward edge of the cross head 10, and

then downwardly and forwardly in the manner described.

Said cross head is provided at its ends with forwardly extending slides 18, movable in longitudinal trackways 19 in the stationary frame 10a. Upon moving the cross head 10 forward, the upper surface thereof will engage the rods 14, and lift said rods and their lingers, to deliver a unit as in Fig. 3. Tension springs 20, secured to the slides 13 and the stationary frame 10a will effect a return of the cross head and its fingers after completion of the delivery.

A box-l1ke body A and the cover B are provided with co-extensive delivery shelf portions 21 and 22 respectively, forming a forwardly extending shelf inclined at the general slope of the platform 5. A weather shield 23 hinged at 24 to the cover B, is

adapted to normally close the delivery opening 25, and is provided with rearwardly extending ears 26 at the sides of said cover B, having arcuate slots 27 therein for limited outward movement of the shield on studs or C pins 28 of the cover.

close downwardly by gravity after retraction of the discharging fingers.

i It is designed that the machine shall be operated by projecting mechanism capable of being released by a coin or coins, so as il to regulate the vending of a unit only upon insertion of such coin or coins. While various devices of this character may be adapted to the mechanism, l have shown one form of coin controlled plunger which, in prac- D'lf tice, has shown good results and which is well adapted to effect the desired functions and operation.

The forward propulsion of the cross head 10 and its flexibly connected shifting fingers 9 is effected by means of a forwardlyl Vside thereof and is provided with an operating handle lever 38, preferably integral thercwith. y

The forward' @mi 39 or shifting block si is adapted to engage the rear edge of the cross head 10, and to project the same forwardly to the desired extent, to effect the dis` charge of a paper'unit. Upon rotation of the handle 38 in a forward direction, the said motion is effected by means of shaft 37, lever 36 and operating link 35.

For the purpose of controlling the operation of the machine, I have provided an interference mechanism so designed and arranged as to prevent operation until released by the deposit of a coin or coins. While l have shown such mechanism operable for the vending of a newspaper selling at a price of three cents, it will be understood that the same may be altered by changing the number of parts to permit the vending of units at different prices.

Accordingly, 1 have provided three individual mechanisms, each operable by a penny,

for such control. Each mechanism includes a stop member 40, a bell crank 41 having one arm engaging the stop member and the other arm connected with a rod 42, said rod having a coin slide 43 secured thereto provided with a coin slot 44 therethrough. rlhe stop members 40 are arranged one above the other in suitable brackets 45 and the coin slides 43 are slidably arranged in parallelism, as

block 31, to permit operation, an oscillating bell crank 47 is provided, pivoted at 48, and having a roller 49 rotatable in a bifurcated end thereof, and adapted to engage a cam face 50 in the block. The other end of the crank 47 is connected at 51 to a link 52, se-

cured at 53 to a vertically extending` portion 54 of coin control plate 55, slidably positioned over the coin slides 43, and having complementary coin slots 44a therethrough.

Coin slides 43 are provided with vertical pins i3? 56V extending upwardly through slots 57 in the plate 55. .A tension spring 58 maintains the plate in its normal position and holds the roller 49 against its cam surface at all times. v

Thus when no coinsare inserted in the machine, rotation of the handle 38 will move and forming connecting links or ,pressure transmitting elements. between theV slides 43 and the control plate 55. Then upon actuating the mechanism just described, the motion of the-plate 55 -will be imparted to the slides 43, thereby withdrawing the stops 40 by means of rods 42, vand bell cranks 41. `The head 31 will then engage the cross head 10 and proceed to the end of its stroke, delivering a paper unit as in Fig. 3. The limit of such stroke is provided by lever 36 engaging inclined wall of the box A. Cam face50 recedes a slight amount, as 61, to permit a slight retraction of the plate 55, thereby releasing the pennies in their slots and permitting them to fall by gravity into a suitable chute 62. i Y.

Toward-the end of the return stroke, the stops 40 will bereturned to their normal position by means of the slots 57, pins 56,7slides 43, rods 42 and bell cranks 41.

For the'purpose of vending a newspaperupon the deposit of a nickel or a dime, and returning change therefor, I have constructed coin changing means associated withfthe interference mechanism hereinbefore described.

Tov this end, I provide a nickel slide 63 and a' dime slide 64, parallel in the same plane as the slides 43 and extending across the ends thereof. The control plate 55 extends thereover and has a nickel slot and a'dime slot 66 therethrough, and is normally directly over complementary slots 65a and 66a in the slides 63 and 64 respectively. n i

Thus .it will be seen, that when a nickel is inserted'in the slots `65 and 65a, movement of the plate 55 will impart motion to the slide 63,

which will inturn abut the ends of slides 43,`

68 respectively. To the depending portion 67 is secured a change plate 69, extending in the direction of motion of the slides, and. be-

low the open end of a penny reservoir or tube 70. The change plate 69 is slightly thinner than the thickness of two pennies, and has an opening therethrough of substantially the same diameter as a penny, normally positioned below said reservoir, as shown in Fig. 7. When the machine is operated by the insertion ofa nickel, the plate 69 will move with the slide 63, and deliver two cents change to an outer receptacle 71, lwhere it may be removed by the purchaser. y

Depending portion 68 of the slide64 is similarly provided rwith a change plate 72,

having a thickness slightly less thanthat of a` nickel, and extending .underneath a nickel reservoir 73. An opening therethrough 'is adapted to shear olf a vnickel from the pile inv the reservoir and deliver it, with thetwo cents from change plate 69 to the receptacle `71 y when the machine is'operated by means of a dime; i y I i y The operation of my invention will be readily understood and appreciated from. the foregoing description. ,The platform 5 being loaded with a pile of folded newspapers, with tieir front free edges immediately below the discharging fingers, the uppermost unit will be in Contact with said fingers. Upon depositing the necessary coins for releasingthe stops 40, operation ofV handle 38 will advance the blocky 31 until the forwardend head 10. As the cross head advances, the pins or needles 12 of the ngers 9 will enter the uppermost unit and raise the same by the action of said cross head on theguide rods 14 and the fingers, until said unit is presented for withdrawal at the -delivery opening 25, where it may be grasped by the operator. Upon releasing the handle 38, the springs Q0 will return the parts of the .projecting mechanism to theirnormal position in readiness for anothervending operation. An additional spring 20a facilitates a quick return of the block 31. v v

In order to prevent improper vending of a unit when the parts of the machine are in intermediate positions, portion 33 of the block 31 is provided with ratchets 74 and 75, adapted to be engaged by depending pawls 76 ,and 77 respectively. Said pawls are pivotally secured to a stationary member 78 of the box A, and extend in opposite directions to engage said ratchets. A shifting bar 79,V having slotted ends 8O for mounting' on suitable screws or pins'81 secured in the member 7 8, is provided with projecting pins 82 and 83 for operating the pawls76 and 77 respectively. The bar 79 isl further provided with spaced-apart depending pins 84 and 84a for actuating the bar by. means of a trip member '85, secured tothe block portion l Upon forward movement of the block 31 and portion 33 thereof, the pawl 76 will engage the ratchet 74, preventing any backward movement of said block until the completion of the delivery stroke. As the block reaches (See Fig. 4,)

l/Vhen the block 31 and portion 33 reach the end of the return stroke, trip will slide the bar 79 to its original position by means of pin 84a, raising the pawl 77 and 3 permitting the pawl 7 6 to fall into engagement with ratchet 74, as will be readily understood.

It will be seen that the entire machine is capable of being proportioned to suit the commercial needs for which it is designed. Various changes and modifications are contemplated providing they fall within the scope of the following claims.

What I claim is 1. A newspap-er vending machine provided with a case having a storage cavity and a deliveryv opening, an inclined supporting platform resiliently mounted in the storage cavity, means including` an incision device and a cross head for moving a newspaper from the platform towards the delivery opening having a shifting block and means on the block for preventing its return movement before completion of the delivery -stroke, a. weather shield pivoted over 'the delivery opening and means on the moving means for elevating the weather shield.

2. A newspaper vending machine provided with a case having a storage cavity and a delivery opening, an inclined supporting platform resiliently mounted in the storage cavity, means for moving a newspaper from the platform towards the delivery opening including a shifting block and means on the block for preventing its return movement before completion of the delivery stroke, a cross head actuated by the shifting block having a pivoted finger provided with an incision device, a guide rodl superimposed upon said finger for the purpose of varying the movement of said finger, and means for adjustably mounting the incision device in the finger.

3. A newspaper vending machine provided with a case having a storage cavity and a delivery opening, an inclined supporting platform resiliently mounted in the storage cavity, a movable cross head having a finger 55 pivoted thereto, an incision device on said finger, and a lifting guide rod pivotally mounted over and engaging the finger and above the cross head for elevation by forward movement of the cross head.

4. A newspaper vending machine provided with a case having a storage cavity anda' delivery opening, an inclined supporting platform resiliently mounted in the storage cavity, a stationary frame, a cross head slidably mounted in a trackway of said frame, a finger pivoted to the cross head, an incision device on said nger, a guide rod pivotally mounted on the stationary frame and extending longitudinally of the finger, apertured means on the finger for receiving the rod, a shifting block for engaging the cross head, landklevermeans for actuating the shifting noc 5. ln a newspaper vending machine, a lower casing provided with a storage cavity and a delivery shelf portion, an upper casing providing a co-eXtensive delivery shelf portion and a delivery opening, an inclined platform having supporting springs, a horizontal trackway above the platform, a cross-head on the trackway, fingers pivoted on the cross head having incision pins, guide rods positioned over the cross head and operatively connected with the ngers for raising the fingers as they advance, and a slidable shifting block adapted to engage the cross head.

6. In a newspaper vending machine, a lower casing provided with a storage cavity and a delivery shelf portion, an upper casing providing a co-eXtensive delivery shelf portion and a delivery opening, an inclined platform having supporting springs, a horizontal trackway above the platform, a cross head on he trackway, fingers pivoted on the crosshead having incision pins, guide rods positioned over the cross head and operatively' connected with the fingers for raising the iingers as they advance, retraction springs for the cross head, and a slidable shifting block adapt-ed to engage the cross head. Y

7. ln a newspaper vending machine, a casing having a storage cavity, means for resiliently mounting a group of units therein, a cross head slidable above said units and having delivery fingers pivoted thereto, incision pins on the fingers, guide rods over the fingers and cross head having link connection with the fingers for raising them by a forward underneath movement of the cross head to project a unit from said group upwardly and outwardly and means for actuating the cross head.

8. In a newspaper vending machine, projecting mechanism for delivering a newspaper includingA a shifting block, oppositely disposed ratchets on the block, pivotally mounted pawls over said ratchets and eX- tending in opposite directions, and slidable means provided with spaced-apart pins for raising and lowering said pawls with relation to the ratchets actuated by said block.

l 9. In a newspaper vending machineyprojecting mechanism for delivering a'newspaf per including a shifting block, oppositel)T disposed ratchets on the block, pivotally mounted paWls over said ratohets and eX? tending in opposite directions, a slide bar, trip means on the block for actuating the slide har, and spaced-apart pins on said bar for alternately raising and lowering the pawls With relation to the ratehets upon a movement of the block. Y

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix vmy signature.

JOI-IN A. HEBB. 

